Maine’s elected officials reacted Sunday to President Donald Trump’s announcement that U.S. forces launched strikes on three nuclear sites in Iran.
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, Republican
“The precision strike that the President ordered was a necessary response to Iran’s aggressive pursuit of nuclear weapons. This limited and decisive action is far preferable to the much broader conflict that would be all but inevitable if Iran were to obtain nuclear weapons.
A nuclear-armed Iran poses an existential threat to our ally Israel. Ultimately, as Iran continues to develop the capacity of its ballistic missiles, our country is also in danger.”
U.S. Sen. Angus King, Independent
“The president has taken a profoundly important — and potentially dangerous — step in ordering the bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities and thus risking U.S. involvement in another debilitating war in the Middle East.
Over the next several weeks we will be in a better position to determine the results of this attack, both in terms of Iran’s response and the actual impact of the strikes on Iran’s nuclear capacity.
Beyond the risks entailed by the president’s decision, however, are questions surrounding the manner in which the decision was made — entirely unilaterally without consultation with our allies (except Israel), or Congress. Our Constitution explicitly places the responsibility to “declare war” on Congress for a very good reason, to avoid the danger inherent in placing that awesome power in the hands of one person.
Clearly, the president must have the power to act in national self-defense or when faced with an imminent threat to our national interest, but respect for the Constitution and the common sense policy it embodies should require some level of consultation with Congress if at all possible.
In this case, there was a process available on virtually a moment’s notice, albeit short of full Congressional action on a declaration of war or authorization of the use of military force. This process, well established in urgent circumstances, is to notify congressional leadership and the leadership of the national security committees.
In this way, the president would have the opportunity to present to the peoples’ representatives the intelligence basis for the decision, the pros and cons of the proposed action, and the means to be employed.
Although not a veto, this process would ensure that the appropriate questions would be raised and the president would hear points of view not necessarily aligned with his own close advisors.
The results of these strikes may turn out to be successful — the end of Iran’s nuclear program and its aggression in the region — but the risks are no less real — that Iran may have nuclear facilities we don’t know about and conclude that they have no choice but to race to a bomb.
But with either result, the question remains whether this decision was made in such a way as to protect our country while at the same time minimizing the risk of a war no one wants.”
U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, Democrat
“The president’s decision to bomb Iran without the authorization of Congress is reckless, unconstitutional, and puts countless lives at risk — including U.S. troops currently stationed in the Middle East.
No president has the authority to launch a military attack against any country without Congressional authorization — especially when there’s no imminent threat to the American people. This is unconstitutional.
It is imperative that Congress convene as soon as possible to address this crisis, to vote on the bipartisan War Powers Act introduced last week, and to make clear to the president that the United States must not be dragged into another war in the Middle East.”
U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, Democrat
“Iran is governed by a regime that is hostile to the United States and allied with others that seek the destruction of America. They sponsor terrorist organizations that have killed American troops and citizens and are a source of chaos and bloodshed in the region. The IAEA determined the regime had been dangerously close to developing nuclear weapons. Based on what I know so far, I believe the president was right to launch limited strikes to deter that outcome.
“It is important now that the country learns what information helped inform the president’s decision and the timing of these strikes, and that we learn more about whether we were successful in destroying Iran’s nuclear program. I look forward to Congress receiving a full briefing. But what matters most now is what happens next: Just today, Iran launched missiles at American bases in Iraq and Qatar. The top priority for the president and his administration, as well as for Congress, must be to use every tool at our disposal to defend Americans and deter further escalation by Tehran.”